In all, more than 30 fishing rodeos are scheduled for Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes and Grand Isle until mid-October.

Johnny Glover, owner of Coco Marina in Cocodrie, said the summer is a great time for fishing for recreational anglers and rodeo participants.

"The area is a great place for fishing as we have an abundance of reds, specks, snapper and cobia," he said. "You can definitely get your fill of fish in the area. This area has great fishing and many people donít have any trouble finding an abundance of it. (Fishing) definitely attracts people and this is the perfect season for it. It also gives locals an opportunity to do what they love to do and thatís hunt and fish."

Throughout the summer, Grand Isle will be a popular destination for fishermen with rodeos nearly every weekend.

Buggie Vegas with Bridgeside Marina in Grand Isle said it all starts this weekend with the annual speckled trout rodeo.

"The speckled trout season has officially started," he said. "Thatís the most sought after fish out there, and once they start biting in the surf, everybody is excited. Itís on."

The weather forecast could be ideal this weekend for recreational fishermen and rodeo participants. Although rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday morning, the weather is expected to improve in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

With a favorable weather forecast, Tommy Dupre of TYDs in Leeville said he is anticipating a busy holiday weekend.

"The fishing will be good and I expect everyone who will come down can catch fish," he said. "Thereís no problem with that. In the next couple of weeks, the weather should straighten out as it always does in the summer. When the conditions get ideal out there, everyone will have a blast."

Martha Ham with the Grand Isle Port Commission said the summer rodeo season is usually a financial boom for the island. This weekend, she expects the islandís population to increase to about 20,000. For the 87th annual Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo, the population to swells to more than 50,000.

Ham said everyone benefits when more tourists are on the island.

"It brings in tourists throughout the summer," she said. "We are a tourist town, and all of the rodeos helps support the town of Grand Isle. It benefits everyone -- the restaurants, motels, marinas and souvenir shops."

Dupre said summer is the busiest time of the year for bait shops and marinas along the coast.

"This is the time of the year for us as a company that we get it," he said. "From now until Labor Day, this is the busy time. We will be flat out getting it from here on out. The business will be fast and furious."

Vegas said rising fuel prices could benefit local marinas because many people may opt to stay close to home this summer.

"Many people are deciding to stay in Grand Isle instead of going to Mississippi or Florida for fishing and beaches," he said.

John Thompson of Little Eagle in Golden Meadow said barring any hurricanes, he expects a good summer fishing season.

"The fishing should be good throughout the summer from Leeville to the Gulf (of Mexico)," he said. "We always have good fishing in the area. You can stay inshore and catch some really good fish."

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